NCJ Number
15372
Date Published
1974
Length
42 pages
Annotation
RECOMMENDATION FOR A FEDERAL POLICY ON EVALUATION AND CONDITIONS FOR IMPROVING EVALUATION RESEARCH THROUGH LEGISLATIVE, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND TECHNOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS.
Abstract
THE NEED FOR AN EVALUATION POLICY DISCUSSED, CITING THE DISAPPOINTING QUALITY OF MANY EVALUATIONS AS A BASIS FOR THIS NEED. UNDER THE TOPIC OF THE SCOPE OF EVALUATIONS, SUCH FACTORS AS DIFFERENT TYPES OF EVALUATIONS, THE NEED FOR SUPERVISION OF EVALUATION PROCEDURES, AND THE GAP BETWEEN THE IDEA AND THE REALITY OF EVALUATION RESEARCH ARE CONSIDERED. IMPROVEMENT CONDITIONS, SUCH AS LEGISLATIVE SUPERVISION AND APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FOR EVALUATION, ARE DETAILED. ALSO, ADMINISTRATIVE IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE DOING THE RIGHT KIND OF EVALUATION RESEARCH AT THE RIGHT TIME. ANALYTIC EVALUATION BEFORE AND DURING PROGRAM PLANNING, PROCESS EVALUATION DURING PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION, AND IMPACT EVALUATION WHEN THE PROGRAM IS FULLY IMPLEMENTED. CONDITIONS INCLUDED ARE THE LINKING OF SERVICES, COSTS, AND RESULTS, AND MATCHING MEASURES AND STATISTICS WITH SERVICES AND OBJECTIVES. SAFEGUARDS FOR PROGRAM EVALUATIONS, PROBLEMS IN CURRENT EVALUATION RESEARCH, AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ALSO INDICATED.